Su Yan delivered his charges with confidence and fluency:
“The Embroidered Uniform Guard, established to safeguard imperial personnel and oversee investigations, was designed as a vital tool of the state. Its purpose was loyalty to the emperor and service to the nation. Yet, under Feng Que’s command, it has become a weapon for personal vendettas and baseless accusations, subverting its founding principles. This is the theft of imperial authority—first charge!”
“His behavior is domineering and tyrannical. Officials tremble at the sight of him, fearing wrongful punishment for perceived slights. Encounters in the streets necessitate stepping aside, and any delay incurs a slap with the rebuke, ‘Do you not know who I am?’ When traveling on duty, his entourage clears the way as if an imperial procession. By exploiting the emperor’s name to enforce his own authority, he has damaged the sovereign’s reputation—second charge!”
“As Commandant, his rank is third rank, far beneath the senior ministers of the court. Yet he behaves with the airs of a duke, expanding estates, building grand gardens, and indulging in extravagance at the state’s expense. Such overreach disrupts the laws and order of the nation—third charge!”
These three points accuse Feng Que of abusing public power for personal gain, bullying with borrowed authority, and engaging in extravagant excess.
Su Yan was deeply aware that in the feudal era, disloyalty to the emperor was the most unforgivable crime. Thus, these three accusations were placed prominently and framed as extremely serious: usurping imperial authority, tarnishing the emperor’s name, and disrupting law and order—each accusation like a heavy hat pressed down one after another.
The details were not neglected either. For instance, the scene where Feng Que “slapped an official in reproach” vividly showcased his arrogance. Moreover, it was likely to stir up old and new grievances among the humiliated officials, prompting them to step forward and testify against him. Wouldn’t they, out of gratitude for Su Yan’s righteousness, willingly support his cause? A plan that kills two birds with one stone, indeed.
“As for his extravagant lifestyle, where did his wealth come from? Clearly, he engaged in corruption and blatant bribery. Take the ‘Three Wooden Silver’ practice of the Northern Surveillance Bureau, for example. Allow me to explain this to Your Majesty and the esteemed ministers. They would target wealthy families, fabricate charges to arrest them, and then use the ‘three wooden planks’ as torture. Each plank weighed a hundred catties, and after being shackled, the victims would be bent and disfigured. If the family sought to rescue them, they would be required to pay one thousand taels of silver to remove the first plank, two thousand taels for the second, and three thousand taels for the third. Six thousand taels to save a life—those who could afford it were ruined, while those who couldn’t were left with nothing. Such extortion plunges the people into misery and suffering. This is the fourth major crime!”
This “Three Wooden Silver” practice was an unspoken rule set by Feng Que. The Embroidered Uniform Guard Guards of the Northern Surveillance Bureau wouldn’t disclose it publicly, instead hinting to the victims’ families after imprisonment. Those who went bankrupt to save their lives dared not speak up after their release. Meanwhile, those who couldn’t afford the ransom and lost their lives were often from poor families, leaving no one to demand justice. Thus, this practice remained undiscovered for years.
If not for Shen Qi revealing this inside information, even Su Yan couldn’t have described it in such detail.
This time, his crimes were exposed to the public, and the court ministers showed expressions of indignation. They murmured among themselves, cursing Feng Que for his greed and malevolence. Even the usually composed Emperor Jinglong, renowned for his tolerance, showed a face full of anger upon hearing the accusations.
“He even used the opportunity of investigations and arrests to embezzle confiscated property from the residences of convicted officials, filling his private coffers. He distributed state treasury funds to curry favor and cultivate his faction, forming a gang of treacherous individuals. This constitutes his fifth great crime!”
“He tolerated his subordinates setting traps for officials filing petitions, punishing them for the slightest infraction. Anyone who dared to report his unlawful deeds faced certain retaliation—imprisonment and torture. Such vindictiveness to remove dissenting voices undermines the upright officials of the court. This is his sixth great crime!”
“To exaggerate the importance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s patrol and arrest duties, he fabricated wrongful cases, claiming unearned rewards while deceiving his superiors. This betrayal of the Emperor’s trust constitutes his seventh great crime!”
“The imperial prison, under orders from the Emperor, is meant for handling significant cases with utmost caution, targeting grave offenses while sparing the innocent. However, Feng Que misused this authority to recklessly convict and extract confessions through torture, treating human lives as worthless. This constitutes his eighth great crime!”
“He forged confessions implicating Li Gelao and drove Chancellor Zhuo to death, attacking the pillars of the court. This is his ninth great crime!”
When the ninth charge was read, many civil officials could no longer contain themselves. Particularly those affiliated with Li Chengfeng stepped forward, pleading, “Feng Que’s crimes are unpardonable. Your Majesty, we request his execution!”
“Your subjects request the execution of Feng Que!”
“Without executing Feng Que, we cannot uphold the Emperor’s authority, enforce discipline, or appease public anger. We request his execution!”
“I second the motion!”
“So do I!”
“……”
The Emperor raised his hand, and the ministers in the square immediately fell silent. The Emperor said, “There are still three more charges. Su Yan, continue.”
“The remaining three charges involve me personally. I fear I must avoid bias and am uncertain if I should proceed.”
“As this is an impeachment and sentencing case, every word must be spoken thoroughly. Do not compromise justice for fear of bias. Speak freely.”
With the Emperor’s backing, Su Yan stood tall and gazed directly at Feng Que kneeling on the imperial steps. His mind flashed to Shen Qi’s horrific back injuries. The anger choking his chest demanded release; he could not rest until he exacted retribution on the culprit.
He raised his voice: “In the Ye Donglou murder case, Feng Que colluded with the perpetrator, forged an imperial decree to deceive an artist, and conspired to frame Yu Wang. His malicious intent undermines the royal family’s virtue. This is his tenth great crime!”
“In a separate palace, he incited armed conflict and sent assassins to infiltrate the East Garden’s Chongzhi Hall to murder officials. At the time, both Your Majesty and the Crown Prince were residing in the East Garden. How can we be certain he harbored no intent of regicide? This constitutes plotting treason and is his eleventh great crime!”
“He brutalized subordinates, resorting to cruel punishments at the slightest disobedience. His subordinate, Commander Shen Qi, refused to unjustly kill an official and was subjected to ‘combing’ torture, nearly losing his life. This is a betrayal of loyalty and righteousness across the land, his twelfth great crime!”
These final three charges directly implicated Feng Que in the already concluded Ye Donglou case. The officials present suddenly understood: How could a mere Hanlin Academy scholar like Yun Xi achieve such outcomes? It turns out Feng Que was behind it all—likely under his instructions. Su Yan, having suffered personally, was one of the case’s victims, so his request to avoid bias made sense.
But what connection did the last two charges have with Su Yan?
No one dared to question this before the Emperor, except Li Chengfeng, who immediately asked.
Su Yan cupped his hands and replied, “Gelao, the official Feng Que attempted to assassinate was myself. He initially sent Commander Shen Qi. However, Commander Shen was persuaded by my reasoning and not only refrained from acting but also secretly protected me multiple times. Suspicious of Commander Shen’s loyalty, Feng Que recalled him to the Northern Surveillance Bureau, where he subjected him to the ‘combing’ torture. Commander Shen’s life now hangs by a thread.”
“Sacrificing oneself to save others, upholding righteousness over life—Shen Qi is truly a man of honor!” Li Gelao exclaimed.
So it was Shen Qi! That traitor… Ten years of gratitude repaid with betrayal. If only I hadn’t hesitated back then; I should have had him executed by Lingchi! Feng Que turned to glare at Su Yan, his eyes filled with hatred as deep as the sea. This brat—what kind of witchcraft had he used to win over everyone, from Shen Qi to Yu Wang, from the crown prince to the Emperor?
Su Yan sneered coldly from afar: I enjoy seeing you gnash your teeth at me, utterly powerless. You can’t defeat me, so now it’s my turn to destroy you. Let’s see who outmaneuvers whom!
This silent scorn felt like a blade to the chest, causing Feng Que immense agony.
Enraged to the point of spitting blood, he stood up and shouted, “I refuse to accept this! How can baseless accusations from a mere boy convict me? Is there no justice left in this world?”
“Why do you assume I lack solid evidence?” Su Yan’s gaze swept over the ministers and landed on Censor Jia.
Censor Jia, sensing the moment had come, presented a large dark box to the Emperor. Together with Lan Xi, he carefully laid out its contents—documents neatly categorized—on the imperial desk.
“The evidence is here. I believe Feng Que knows better than I what secrets it holds.”
The Emperor casually picked up a secret order, glanced at it, and then flung it at Feng Que’s face. “See for yourself!”
Feng Que didn’t need to open it. From the style alone, he recognized it as a directive he sent years ago to his subordinates in another region, ordering them to sink a ship carrying an exiled official and stage it as an accident. The directive was meant to be burned after reading. How had it ended up in Su Yan’s hands? Shen Qi again! Clearly, he had long harbored betrayal in his heart, seizing this moment to attack. Not only had he cleared his name as a brutal enforcer, but he’d also earned the Gelao’s praise as a “righteous man” and positioned himself for advancement.
He had been hunting geese his whole life, only to have one peck out his eye—raising a tiger only to suffer its bite! Overwhelmed with fury, Feng Que coughed up blood.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he roared like a cornered beast: “These are all forged by you and Shen Qi! I do not confess! I do not confess!”
A deep, resonant male voice rang out from the edge of the crowd—
“Are these three witnesses also fabricated by your collusion?”
Yu Wang strode forward, escorted by guards, not even bothering with a sedan chair. Behind him, attendants carried two frozen corpses on stretchers, placing them in the square.
Feng Que recognized them immediately: Commander Fan Tongxuan and a subordinate officer.
Yu Wang bowed respectfully to the Emperor and said, “Royal brother, you ordered me to secretly investigate the Ye Donglou case alongside Su Shidu. During my investigation, I entered the small southern courtyard by night and unexpectedly encountered three Embroidered Uniform Guard agents in disguise attempting to assassinate Su Shidu. I subdued them on the spot, killing two. The third, though injured, is now kneeling below and awaits your judgment.”
Yu Wang’s timely arrival was thanks to Su Yan’s foresight. Before departing, Su Yan had sent Gao Shuo, a Embroidered Uniform Guard scout loyal to Shen Qi, to Yu Wang’s residence with the Crown Prince’s waist token to explain the plan and seek assistance. The token ensured the guards treated the matter seriously, saving precious time. Additionally, when Yu Wang had slain two of the assailants, Su Yan had advised him to preserve their bodies, predicting their utility in due course.
Now, Su Yan glanced at the injured man, forced to kneel by the guards. The man’s face was pale as gold paper, clearly gravely wounded. Upon closer inspection, Su Yan recognized him—it was the same fellow whose groin he had shattered with his “kick”… Even if rescued, the man was now half-crippled.
Inwardly, Su Yan sent the man a mental “sad emoji” and turned his icy gaze on Feng Que. “The evidence is overwhelming. Whether you admit guilt or not, does it even make a difference?”
With the corpses and the witness in plain view, the court was again abuzz with outrage. Ministers knelt en masse, urging the Emperor to punish the traitor. Even those who had previously allied with Feng Que now scrambled to distance themselves, each louder than the last in pleading for his execution.
Meanwhile, Censor Jia Gongji had taken it upon himself to draft a memorial of impeachment against Feng Que on the spot. With his sharp tongue, he lambasted Feng Que mercilessly, hurling scathing accusations that, while venomous, contained not a single vulgar word. Those who had missed the earlier proceedings might have thought Jia Gongji was the primary prosecutor in this case.
Su Yan did not think much of this act of taking credit. He thought to himself: Isn’t this Censor Jia just trying to earn a reputation for upright remonstration and rooting out traitors?
As for himself, with his lowly rank and youthful status, he had already rung the Drum of Appeals in righteous anger, boldly stormed the Fengtian Gate, confronted powerful traitors face-to-face, listed their twelve major crimes, presented ironclad evidence, and ultimately exonerated his mentor, bringing the traitors to justice. Such a thrilling drama surpassed even the most legendary of tales—why worry about not earning widespread acclaim?
He himself was feasting on the main course; it wouldn’t hurt to let Censor Jia sip some of the soup. Who knows, he might need the man’s help someday. Having more allies is never a bad thing.
The emperor seized the opportunity and decreed: “Feng Qu’e’s crimes are too heinous to pardon. Strip him of his office and rank, imprison him in the imperial prison, and set a date for his execution.
“In the case of Zhuo Qi, Yu Shouyong, Minister of the Dali Temple, colluded with Feng Que and later committed perjury to cover up the crime. He ought to be punished as well. However, considering his previous diligence, he is demoted to the position of Registrar in Didao and is forbidden from returning to the capital for life.
“The Embroidered Uniform Guard Guards harbor many of Feng Que’s associates, who must be thoroughly investigated, with each dealt with according to the law. This matter shall be entrusted to Su Yan, with supervision by Lan Xi, the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and Jia Gongji, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. Once the investigation is complete, report to me immediately.”
The emperor was unwilling to entrust the task of purging the Embroidered Uniform Guard Guards to the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Personnel, fearing that civilian officials meddling with the Imperial Guard’s Twelve Corps would dilute his authority.
Appointing Su Yan served two purposes. First, the emperor recognized Su Yan’s talent and lack of ambition; with few connections in court, Su Yan was ideal as the emperor’s blade. Second, as a young and newly promoted official, Su Yan lacked seniority. The Embroidered Uniform Guard Guards, known for their unruly and corrupt ways, would test his integrity and methods—a perfect opportunity for growth.
The addition of a censor ensured the court had no grounds for objection.
The presence of an eunuch supervisor allowed direct reporting to the emperor, ensuring swift communication even in urgent situations.
Everything was well-considered, save for one thing: Su Yan’s rank was too low to command the authority needed for the task.
Thus, the emperor issued another decree: “Furthermore, Su Yan, Xianma of the Bureau of Classics and Shidu to the Crown Prince, has contributed greatly in curbing evil and demonstrated both loyalty and righteousness. Relieve him of his duties as Xianma and promote him to Right Shaoqing of the Dali Temple. Simultaneously, he is selected for entry into the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi.”
The Dali Temple oversaw the adjudication of criminal cases, and its head, the Dali Temple Minister, was among the Nine Ministers. With Yu Shouyong demoted, the position of Dali Temple Minister was expected to go to the current Left Shaoqing. Meanwhile, the Right Shaoqing, who had recently retired due to tuberculosis, left his position vacant.
This meant Su Yan had effectively leapt three ranks in one move. Before reaching the age of twenty, he was promoted to a real power position as a fourth-rank official—a rarity in the court.
Although the position of Shujishi was nominal, it carried great prestige.
The so-called “Shujishir” was selected from the second and third ranks of the palace examinations, reserved for young and exceptionally talented individuals. They were chosen to join the Hanlin Academy, known as the “Xuanguan.” Su Yan, having ranked seventh in the second tier of the palace examinations, was well-qualified for the role.
But the significance of the Shujishi position lies not only in the present but also in the future.
It must be understood that since the reign of Emperor Chengzu, a custom had been established: only those who passed the imperial examination could enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those from the Hanlin Academy could enter the Grand Secretariat. Thus, the Shujishi was nicknamed the “Reserve Prime Minister,” as those who became Shujishis had the opportunity to rise steadily through the ranks and even enter the Grand Secretariat.
The Grand Secretariat was the administrative core of the entire court. The Grand Secretaries assisted the emperor in deliberating state affairs, wielding authority above the Six Ministries. Sometimes, they concurrently held the title of Shangshu of one of the Six Ministries, their power nearly equivalent to that of the prime minister of the previous dynasty. The current five Grand Secretaries—one Senior Grand Secretary and four Vice Grand Secretaries—were all former Shujishis.
The emperor’s decision carried an implicit deeper meaning, forcing the officials present to reevaluate the weight of this young officer and speculate on the emperor’s intentions.
Su Yan, however, didn’t care what others thought. He had achieved merit and accepted rewards without guilt. Moreover, the emperor had promoted him to accomplish tasks, not to enjoy privileges. What was there to feel uneasy about? Thus, he accepted the decree and expressed his gratitude with poise.
Lan Xi, on the other hand, began calculating in secret: The emperor held Su Yan in such high regard—how could Lan Xi ever repay such favor? Offering mere physical effort was nothing in comparison. Since he was Su Yan’s elder by status, he had every right to make decisions for him. He would first have a good discussion with Su Yan about the pros and cons. If Su Yan was willing to listen, all would be well. But if he were stubborn and resistant, Lan Xi wouldn’t hesitate to use some methods. Everything he did, after all, was for Su Yan’s benefit!
